Printer resource sharing in a media exchange network

ABSTRACT

A system providing printer resource sharing in a communication network is disclosed and may include a first communication device deployed in a first location, a second communication device deployed in a second location, and a communication network communicatively coupled to the first communication device and the second communication device. At least one personal printer resource may be communicatively coupled to the first communication device. The first communication device deployed in the first location may enable printing of information content on the at least one personal printer resource, at a request of a user of the second communication device. The user of the first communication device may receive a signal from the second communication device that authenticates the second communication device, prior to printing of the information content on the at least one personal printer resource at the request of the user of the second communication device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/428,700, filed Jul. 5, 2006, which makes reference to, claimspriority to, and claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No.10/675,752, filed Sep. 30, 2003, and U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 60/469,329, entitled “Printer Resource Sharing in a MediaExchange Network”, filed on May 9, 2003, U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/457,179, entitled “Server ArchitectureSupporting a Personal Media Exchange Network”, filed on Mar. 25, 2003,U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/461,717, “Secure MediaPeripheral Association with Authentication in a Media Exchange Network”,filed on Apr. 10, 2003, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.60/432,472, entitled “Personal Inter-Home Media Exchange Network”, filedDec. 11, 2002, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/443,894,entitled “Personal Access And Control Of Media Peripherals On A MediaExchange Network”, filed Jan. 30, 2003, the complete subject matter ofwhich are hereby incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.

In addition, the applicants hereby incorporate the complete subjectmatter herein by reference, in their entirety, of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/657,390, entitled “Personal Inter-Home MediaExchange Network”, filed on Sep. 8, 2003, and U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/660,267, entitled “Personal Access And Control Of MediaPeripherals On A Media Exchange Network”, filed on Sep. 11, 2003, thecomplete subject matter of which are hereby incorporated herein byreference, in their entirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[Not Applicable]

SEQUENCE LISTING

[Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The manner in which printing resources are utilized is somewhatlimiting. For example, a first user may have a personal printer, whichis directly connected to a first personal computer (PC). A networkprinter is connected to an Ethernet which, in turn, is connected to thefirst PC. The network printer is accessible to the first user via thefirst PC and the Ethernet. The personal printer is only accessible tothe first user via the first PC. A different PC user using a second PCthat is connected to the Ethernet can also access the same networkprinter. However, from the second PC, the second user cannot access orprint on the personal printer, which is directly connected to the firstPC.

Limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approacheswill become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison ofsuch systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder ofthe present application with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention may be found in, for example, systemsand methods of printer resource sharing in a communication network. Asystem in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention maycomprise, for example, at least one communication device, acommunication network, print server software, and at least one personalprinter resource. The communication device may be deployed at alocation. The communication network may be communicatively coupled tothat communication device. The print server software may receive fromthe communication device via the communication network a request forprinting of information content. The print server software may respondby coordinating the printing of the information content. The at leastone personal printer resource may be communicatively coupled to the atleast one communication device. The print server software may resideoutside of the at least one personal printer resource, and the at leastone personal printer resource may be accessed for printing by thecommunication device via the communication network.

In another embodiment, a system may comprise, for example, a firstcommunication device, a second communication device, a communicationnetwork, information content, a print server software, and a personalprinter resource. The first communication device may be deployed at afirst location. The second communication device may be deployed at asecond location. The communication network may be communicativelycoupled to the first location and the second location. The informationcontent may reside on the first communication device. The print serversoftware may reside on the second communication device and maycoordinate the printing of the information content. The personal printerresource may be communicatively coupled to the communication network, sothat the first communication device may push the information content tothe second communication device for printing on the personal printerresource.

In another embodiment, a method in accordance with the present inventionmay comprise, for example, one or more of the following: searchingthrough a plurality of video frames on a communication network via acommunication device, the communication device being communicativelycoupled to the communication network; selecting a video frame of theplurality of video frames using the communication device; transcodingthe selected video frame using the communication device to obtain asingle image frame; and printing the single image frame from thecommunication device on at least one network printer resource, the atleast one network printer resource being communicatively coupled to thecommunication device via the communication network.

In another embodiment, a method in accordance with the present inventionmay comprise, for example, one or more of the following: selecting orgenerating an image frame on a communication device, the communicationdevice being communicatively coupled to the communication network;calling up printer resources available on the communication networkusing the communication device; selecting a printer resource from theavailable printer resources using the communication device; viewingprinting parameters of the selected printer resource using thecommunication device; accepting the printer resource and the printingparameters using the communication device; and printing the image frameon the accepted printer resource.

These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the presentinvention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, willbe more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a media exchangenetwork comprising an architecture to support the sharing of printerresources, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an MPS (mediaprocessing system) on the media exchange network of FIG. 1A interfacingto printer resources, in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1C is a diagram illustrating embodiments of an NAS (networkattached storage) unit and an SAN (storage area network) interfacingbetween MPS's and printer resources on the media exchange network ofFIG. 1A, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method to selectand launch a frame for printing on the media exchange network of FIG.1A, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method to selecta printing resource and route a print job on the media exchange networkof FIG. 1A, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a first exemplary media exchangenetwork in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of performing personal mediaexchange over a second exemplary media exchange network in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of performing third-party mediaexchange over a third exemplary media exchange network in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary illustration of a TV guide channel user interfacein accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary illustration of several instantiations of a TVguide channel user interface of FIG. 4 in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary illustration of a TV guide channel user interfaceshowing several options of a pushed media in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a schematic block diagram of a media processing system (MPS)interfacing to media capture peripherals in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9B illustrates an alternative embodiment of a media processingsystem (MPS) in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a PC and an MPS interfacing to aserver on a media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a PC interfacing to personalmedia capture devices and remote media storage on a media exchangenetwork in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a media exchangenetwork 100 comprising an architecture to support the sharing of printerresources, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.Specifically, the media exchange network 100 is a communication networkcomprising a media exchange server 101, a printer service server 102, afirst MPS (media processing system) 103, a second MPS 104, a networklaser printer 105, a personal ink jet printer 106, a third MPS 107, apersonal photo printer 108, a printer #1 109 through a printer #N 110,and a communication network infrastructure 111. The media exchangeserver 101, the printer service server 102, the MPS 103, the MPS 104,and the MPS 107 each connect to the communication network infrastructure111. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, thecommunication network infrastructure 111 may comprise the Internet,broadband access headends, cable infrastructure, DSL infrastructure,satellite infrastructure, and any combination thereof. A broadbandaccess headend may comprise a cable headend, a satellite headend, or aDSL headend, in accordance with various embodiments of the presentinvention.

The printer #1 109 through the printer #N 110 interface to the printerservice server 102. The personal ink jet printer 106 and the networklaser printer 105 interface to the MPS 104. The personal photo printer108 interfaces to the MPS 107. Any of the interfaces of the mediaexchange network 100 may be wired or wireless in any combination inaccordance with various embodiments of the present invention. The MPS104 includes a print server software component 112. The network laserprinter 105 includes a print server software component 113. The MPS 107includes a print server software component 114. In an embodiment of thepresent invention, the printers may be wireless.

The media exchange network 100 solves the problem of sharing printerresources on the media exchange network 100. In accordance with anembodiment of the present invention, the media exchange server 101provides functionality on the media exchange network 100 includingdigital printer registration, media transcoding, billing and payment,device registration, channel/program setup and management, and security.

The various elements of the media exchange network 100 include storagelocations for digital media and data. The storage locations maycomprise, for example, hard disk drives, a DVD player, a CD player,floppy disk drives, RAM, or any combination of these. The storagelocations may also include, for example, memory sticks, PCMCIA cards,compact flash cards, or any combination of these.

The MPS's (103, 104, and 107) are essentially enhanced set-top boxes, inone embodiment. The MPS's (103, 104, and 106) may each include a TVscreen for viewing and interacting with various user interfaces, media,data, and services that are available on the media exchange networkusing, for example, a remote control. The MPS's include functionalsoftware to support interaction with the various elements of the mediaexchange network 100, in accordance with various embodiments of thepresent invention.

Other embodiments of the present invention may comprise variouscombinations and/or multiple instantiations of the elements of FIG. 1A,in accordance with various aspects of the present invention, along withPC's (personal computers) and MP (media peripheral) devices.

The printer service server 102 performs the functions of userauthorization, billing, and buffering of print jobs from various deviceson the media exchange network 100. The printer service server 102 alsodelivers print jobs to any of the printers 109 through 110.

For example, the MPS 103 may desire to print an image of a digitalpicture taken with a digital camera but currently stored in the MPS 103.The user of the MPS 103 routes the image to the printer service server102 via the communication network infrastructure 111 for printing. Theprinter service server 102 may then deliver the print job of the imageto be printed to printer #1 109 where the image is printed.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, an MPSmay comprise a set-top box (STB), a PC, or a TV with a media managementsystem (MMS). An MMS is known herein as a media exchange software (MES)platform.

An MMS comprises a software platform operating on at least one processorto provide certain functionality including user interface functionality,distributed storage functionality, and networking functionality. Forexample, an MMS may provide control of media peripheral devices, statusmonitoring of media peripheral devices, and inter-home MPS routingselection, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the printserver software components 112, 113, and 114 each perform the functionsof buffering up print jobs on the media exchange network 100 anddelivering those jobs to printers connected to a corresponding MPS. Ingeneral, a print server software component may be located anywhere on amedia exchange network including in, for example, an MPS, a PC, a TV, aNAS, a SAN, a media exchange server, a headend, etc.

For example, the user of the MPS 103 may push an image to be printed asa print job to the MPS 104 via the communication network infrastructure111. The print server software component 112 in the MPS 104 may thenbuffer up and deliver the print job to the personal ink jet printer 106.The personal ink jet printer 106 does not include any print serverfunctionality and, therefore, relies on the print server softwarecomponent 112 to provide the print server functionality.

However, the MPS 104 may route the print job from the MPS 103 to thenetwork laser printer 105. In such a scenario, the network laser printer105 includes the print server software component 113 to perform theprint server functions. As a result, the print server software component112 is not used by the MPS 104 when routing print jobs to the networklaser printer 105.

By definition herein, any network printer on the media exchange network100 includes a print server software component to provide print serverfunctionality. A network printer includes a network card, runs networkserver software, and supports multiple devices. IP addressed-based printjobs are sent to a network printer and a network printer sends IPconfirmation back to the sources of the print jobs. A network printermay be connected directly to a media exchange network without having togo through an MPS or a PC.

However, any personal printer on the media exchange network 100 does notinclude a print server software component and relies on an MPS with aprint server software component, or a printer service server to performthe printer server functions. A personal printer may connect to a PC oran MPS via a serial port or a parallel port. A PC or an MPS includes anetwork card and software to take print job requests from 3^(rd) partiesand pump the print jobs to the personal printer. For example, thepersonal ink jet printer 106 relies on the print server softwarecomponent 112 in the MPS 104, and the personal photo printer 108 relieson the print server software component 114 in the MPS 107. The networklaser printer 105 includes its own print server software component 113.

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an embodiment 120 of an MPS (mediaprocessing system) 121 on the media exchange network 100 of FIG. 1Ainterfacing to printer resources 122 and 123, in accordance with variousaspects of the present invention. The MPS 121 comprises a TV screen 125,a TV broadcast processing platform 124, a TV exchange processingplatform 126, communication interfaces 127, and a NAS (network attachedstorage) unit 128. The TV exchange processing platform 126 provides thefunctionality of media/data manipulation 129, setup/authorization 130,and service support 131.

The TV broadcast processing platform 124 includes circuitry forbroadcast channel tuning, amplification, and decoding for mediaconsumption and is not used for the functions of media/datamanipulation, set up/authorization, and service support, except for thatimage generation circuitry which is used to drive the TV screen fordisplay of a TV channel guide user interface, for example.

The communication interfaces 127 in the MPS 121 allow media/datacommunication between the MPS 121 and other devices on the mediaexchange network 100. The communication interfaces 127 may also allowcommunication with the TV screen 125, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.

The NAS unit 128 in the MPS 121 comprises a collection of mass storagedevices contained in a single unit with a built-in operating system. AnNAS unit is a dedicated computer that manages storage devices and is“tuned up” to store media. The NAS may serve many users on a mediaexchange network at the same time. The NAS buffers up storage, retrievaland print jobs and may include, for example, an Ethernet card forconnectivity.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the NAS unit128 includes a print server software component to provide print serverfunctionality as previously described herein. The NAS unit 128interfaces with the personal printer 123 and the network printer 122.The interfaces may be wired or wireless interfaces such as, for example,Ethernet or 802.11b. The NAS unit 128 may include a large hard disk aswell as a set of SCSI connectors to attach additional disks, CD-ROMdrives, tape drives, etc. The NAS unit 128 is managed by its ownembedded operating system.

FIG. 1C is a diagram illustrating embodiments 140 and 150 of a NAS(network attached storage) unit 142 and a SAN (storage area network) 146interfacing between MPS's and printer resources on the media exchangenetwork of FIG. 1A, in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention. A SAN comprises a network that allows storage functions to bephysically separated from data-processing functions on a network. Thishelps reduce network traffic by isolating large data transfers. Theembodiment 150 comprises an MPS 141 interfacing to the NAS 142, and anetwork printer 144 and a personal printer 143 also interfacing to theNAS 142. The embodiment 140 comprises an MPS 145 interfacing to the SAN146, and a network printer 148 and a personal printer 147 alsointerfacing to the SAN 146. In such embodiments, the NAS 142 and the SAN146 are outside of the MPS's 141 and 145. The interface between the NAS142 and the printers 143 and 144 may be wired or wireless, in accordancewith various embodiments of the present invention. Similarly, theinterface between the SAN 146 and the printers 147 and 148 may be wiredor wireless, in accordance with various embodiments of the presentinvention. For example, the interfaces may comprise Ethernet interfaces.

To support personal printers, the NAS 142 and the SAN 146 include printserver software components. For network printers, the NAS 142 and SAN146 simply route print jobs to the network printers.

FIG. 2A is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method 200 toselect and launch a frame for printing on the media exchange network 100of FIG. 1A, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.In step 201, video frames are searched for on an MPS on a media exchangenetwork using a remote control while viewing the video frames on a TVscreen of the MPS. In step 202, a single video frame or a window ofvideo frames is frozen and selected on the TV screen of the MPS usingthe remote control. In step 203, the selected video frame or window ofvideo frames is transcoded within the MPS to generate a single imageframe. In step 204, printing of the single image frame is launched onthe media exchange network.

For example, referring to FIG. 1A, a user of the MPS 103 may search forand find a window of video frames within a movie. The user may freezeand select the window of video frames. The user may then command the MPS103 to transcode the window of video frames from an MPEG format to aJPEG image format to generate a single JPEG image frame. The user of theMPS 103 may then launch the single JPEG image frame onto the mediaexchange network 100 for printing on, for example, the network laserprinter 105 at the location of the user of the MPS 104.

Some examples of video formats include the MPEG family of video formats,the Windows media formats, the Real-Player format, the Quick-Time videoformat, the H.263 video format, the H.323 video format, and other newvideo formats. Some examples of image formats include JPEG, TIFF, bitmap, GIF, and PCX, and any other new image formats.

FIG. 2B is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method 210 toselect a printing resource and route a print job on the media exchangenetwork 100 of FIG. 1A, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent invention. In step 211, an image frame is selected or generatedon an MPS of a media exchange network to be printed, using a remotecontrol. In step 212, a print button is selected on the remote controlto call up a list of printing resources on a TV screen of the MPS. Instep 213, a printer is selected from the displayed printing resourcesusing the remote control. In step 214, parameters of the selectedprinter are displayed and viewed on the TV screen of the MPS. In step215, the selected printer, along with its parameters, are accepted onthe MPS using the remote control. In step 216, the MPS routes the printjob to a print service server on the media exchange network via acommunication network infrastructure.

As an example, referring to FIG. 1A, a user of the MPS 103 may select animage stored on the MPS 107 using a remote control. The user may thenselect a print button on the remote control to call up the variousprinting resources on a TV screen of the MPS 103. The list of printingresources displayed includes the network laser printer 105, the personalink jet printer 106, the personal photo printer 108, and the printer #1109 through the printer #N 110, and any other printing resources thatmay be registered on the media exchange server 111. The user thenselects printer #N 110 from the list using the remote control. A set ofparameters come up on the TV screen of the MPS 103 corresponding to theprinter #N 110. The parameters include, for example, the cost of usingthe printer, and may queue the user to select a print size and type ofcolor. The user finalizes the parameter selections and accepts theprinter and parameters using the remote control. Once accepted, the MPS103 then routes the print job of the image to the printer service server102 via the communication network infrastructure 111. The printerservice server 102 buffers up the print job and eventually delivers theprint job to the printer #n 110 for printing.

As another example, a user of the MPS 103 may go through the sameprocess as before but now, selects the personal ink jet printer 106 athis brother's house who is the user of the MPS 104, for example. In sucha scenario, once the print job arrives at the MPS 104, the user of theMPS 104 (i.e., the brother) manually accepts the print job using hisremote control associated with the MPS 104. Once accepted, the printserver software component 112 buffers up and delivers the print job tothe personal ink jet printer 106 for printing. In accordance with analternative embodiment of the present invention, the user of the MPS 104does not have to accept the print job. The print job may, instead, beautomatically routed to the personal ink jet printer 106 by the MPS 104using the print server software component 112.

As a further example, the user of the MPS 107 may wish to print an imagestored in the MPS 107. The user goes through the process of selectingthe image and selecting the personal photo printer 108. The personalphoto printer 108 is owned by the user of the MPS 107 and is at the samelocation as the MPS 107. Therefore, a second step of acceptance, as inthe previous example by the user of the MPS 104, is not performed inthis case. The print job is delivered by the print server softwarecomponent 114 to the personal photo printer 108 once the user of the MPSaccepts the personal photo printer 108 as in steps 215 and 216 of themethod 210.

As a final example, a mother may have a personal printer connected to anMPS at her house. The MPS does not include any print serverfunctionality. A son desires to send a print job to the mother via hisMPS. The son's MPS sends the print job to the mother's MPS via someroute on the media exchange network. However, the print serverfunctionality is handled somewhere outside of the mother's house. Forexample, the son's MPS may handle the print server functionality or aprinter service server may handle the print server functionality. Oncethe print job reaches the mother's MPS, the mother may accept the printjob and the MPS simply sends the print job to the mother's personalprinter.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the MPS's ofthe media exchange network 100 may or may not include a NAS or a SAN asshown in FIG. 1B. Also, in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention, the media exchange network 100 may include standaloneNAS's and/or SAN's, as shown in FIG. 1C, in accordance with variousaspects of the present invention. A NAS or a SAN may connect anywhere onthe media exchange network including to a headend, an MPS, a PC, etc.

A major challenge is to be able to transfer and share many differenttypes of digital media, data, and services between one device/locationand another with ease while being able to index, manage, and store thedigital media and data.

For example, it is desirable to be able to distribute and store manytypes of digital media in a PC and/or television environment in auser-friendly manner without requiring many different types of softwareapplications and/or unique and dedicated interfaces. Any networkingissues or other technical issues should be transparent to the users. Itis also desirable to take advantage of existing hardware infrastructure,as much as possible, when providing such capability.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a media exchange network isprovided that enables many types of digital media, data, and/or servicesto be stored, indexed, viewed, searched for, pushed from one user toanother, and requested by users, using a TV channel guide look-and-feeluser interface. The media exchange network also allows a user toconstruct personal media channels that comprise his personal digitalmedia (e.g., captured digital pictures, digital video, digital audio,etc.), request that third-party media channels be constructed fromthird-party digital media, and access the media channels pushed to himby other users on the media exchange network.

PC's may be used but are not required to interface to the media exchangenetwork for the purpose of exchanging digital media, data, and services.Instead, set-top boxes or integrated MPS's (media processing systems)may be used with the media exchange network to perform all of thepreviously described media exchange functions using a remote controlwith a television screen.

Current set-top boxes may be software enhanced to create an MPS thatprovides full media exchange network interfacing and functionality via aTV screen with a TV guide look-and-feel. PC's may be software enhancedas well and provide the same TV guide look-and-feel. Therefore, themedia exchange network supports both PC's and MPS's in a similar manner.Alternatively, a fully integrated MPS may be designed from the groundup, having full MPS capability.

In the case of an MPS configuration, the user takes advantage of hisremote control and TV screen to use the media exchange network. In thecase of a PC configuration, the user takes advantage of his keyboardand/or mouse to use the media exchange network.

An MPS, or enhanced PC, is effectively a storage and distributionplatform for the exchange of personal and third party digital media,data, and services as well as for bringing the conventional televisionchannels to a user's home. An MPS and/or PC connects to the mediaexchange network via an existing communication infrastructure which mayinclude cable, DSL, satellite, etc. The connection to the communicationinfrastructure may be hard-wired or wireless.

The media exchange network allows users to effectively become their ownbroadcasters from their own homes by creating their own media channelsand pushing those media channels to other authorized users on the mediaexchange network, such as friends and family members.

FIG. 3 comprises a media exchange network 300 for exchanging and sharingdigital media, data, and services in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. The media exchange network 300 is a secure,closed network environment that is only accessible to pre-defined usersand service providers. The media exchange network of FIG. 3 comprises afirst PC 301 and a first media processing system (MPS) 302 at a user'shome 303, a communication infrastructure 304, external processinghardware support 305, remote media storage 306, a second PC 307 at aremote location 308 such as an office, and a second MPS 309 at aparent's home 310.

The PC's 301 and 307 and the MPS's 302 and 309 each include a mediaexchange software (MES) platform 311 and a networking component 312 forconnectivity. The MES platform 311 provides multiple capabilitiesincluding media “push” capability, media “access” capability, mediachannel construction/selection, image sequence selection, text and voiceoverlay, channel and program naming, inter-home routing selection,authorship and media rights management, shared inter-home mediaexperience, billing service, and an integrated TV channel guidelook-and-feel.

The external processing hardware support 305 comprises at least oneserver such as a centralized Internet server, a peer-to-peer server, orcable head end. The server may alternatively be distributed over varioushosts or remote PC's. The MES platform 311 may also reside on theexternal processing hardware support server 305. The remote mediastorage 306 may comprise user media storage and distribution systems 313and/or third party media storage and distribution systems 314.

The communication infrastructure 304 may comprise at least one ofInternet infrastructure, satellite infrastructure, cable infrastructure,dial-up infrastructure, cellular infrastructure, xDSL infrastructure,optical infrastructure, or some other infrastructure. The communicationinfrastructure 304 links the user's home 303, parent's home 310, remotemedia storage 306, and remote location office 308 to each other (i.e.,the communication infrastructure 304 links all users and serviceproviders of the media exchange network 300).

The various functions 315 of the media exchange network 300 comprisegenerating personal network associations, personal storage management,media capture device support, security/authentication/authorizationsupport, authorship tracking and billing and address registration andmaintenance. These media exchange management functions 315 may bedistributed over various parts of the media exchange network 300. Forexample, the personal network associations and personal storagemanagement functions may be integrated in the PC 301 at the user's home303.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of personal media exchange over a mediaexchange network 400 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. In step 1, the media exchange software (MES) platform 401 isused to construct personal media channels on a PC 402 by a user at “myhouse” 403. For example, with various media stored on the PC 402 such asdigital pictures 404, videos 405, and music 406, the MES platform 401allows the digital media to be organized by a user into several channelshaving a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface 407 on the PC402.

In step 2, the user at “my house” 403 pushes a media channel 408 (e.g.,“Joe's Music”) to “brother's house” 409 and pushes two media channels410 and 411 (e.g., “Vacation Video” and “Kid's Pictures”) to “Mom'shouse” 412 via a peer-to-peer server 413 over the Internet-based mediaexchange network 400. “Brother's house” 409 includes a first MPS 414connected to the media exchange network 400. “Mom's house” 412 includesa second MPS 415 connected to the media exchange network 400. The MPS's414 and 415 also provide a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface407.

In step 3, brother and/or Mom access the pushed media channels via theirrespective media processing systems (MPS's) 414 and 415 using theirrespective MPS TV screens and remote controls.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of third-party media exchange over a mediaexchange network 500 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. In step 1, a PC-initiated third-party request is made by afirst party 501 via an Internet-based media exchange network 500 using aTV channel guide look-and-feel user interface 502 on a PC 503. In step2, an anonymous delivery of the requested third-party channel 504 ismade to a second party 505 via the Internet-based media exchange network500. In step 3, the second party 505 accesses the third-party channel504 using a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface 506 on a TVscreen 507 that is integrated into an MPS 508.

Similarly, in step A, an MPS-initiated third-party request is made by asecond party 505 via an Internet-based media exchange network 500 usinga TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface 506 on a TV screen 507using a remote control 509. The second party 505 may key in a code,using his remote control 509, that is correlated to a commercial or someother third party broadcast media. In step B, an anonymous delivery ofthe requested third-party channel 504 is made to a first party 501 viathe Internet-based media exchange network 500. In step C, the firstparty 501 accesses the third-party channel 504 using a TV channel guidelook-and-feel user interface 502 on a PC 503.

FIG. 6 illustrates a TV channel guide user interface 600 in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. The TV channel guide userinterface 600 may be displayed on a TV screen 608 and controlled by aremote control device 609. Also, the TV channel guide user interface 600may be displayed on a PC monitor and controlled by a keyboard or mouse.

The TV channel guide user interface 600 may be configured not only forconventional TV channels but also for personal media channels 601 thatare constructed by a user of a media exchange network, friend's andfamily's media channels 602 constructed by friends and family, and thirdparty channels 603 that are constructed by third parties either uponrequest by a user of a media exchange network or based on a profile of auser.

The personal media channels 601 may include, for example, a “familyvacations channel”, a “kid's sports channel”, a “my life channel”, a“son's life channel”, a “my music channel”, and a “kid's music channel”.The friends and family media channels 602 may include, for example, a“brother's channel”, a “Mom's channel”, and a “friend's channel”. Thethird party media channels 603 may include, for example, a “Sears Fallsale channel” and a “car commercials channel”.

Each media channel may correspond to a schedule 604 showing, forexample, a week 605 and a year 606. For example, under the “kid's sportschannel”, Ty's soccer game could be scheduled to be viewed on Tuesday ofthe current week 605 and current year 606. For each media channel, asub-menu 607 allows for selection of certain control and accessfunctions such as “play”, “send to list”, “send to archive”, “confirmreceipt”, “view”, “purchase”, and “profile”.

FIG. 7 illustrates possible multiple instantiations of a TV channelguide user interface 700 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. The TV channel guide user interface 700 may be viewed with aschedule having formats of, for example, “month, year”, “week#, year”,“day, week#”, or “hour, day”.

Referring to FIG. 8, a user of a media exchange network may push a mediachannel (e.g., “Vacation in Alaska Video”) to a friend who is on thesame media exchange network. The TV channel guide user interface 800 maygive the friend several options 801 for how to accept and download thepushed media in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

For example, a first, most expensive option 803 may be “ExpressDelivery” which would deliver the pushed media to the friend in 18minutes using queuing and cost $1.20, for example. The pushed media maybe stored in a file in an MPEG 2 format that was recorded at a rate of 4Mbps, for example. Queuing comprises buffering and delivering a previouspart of the media and then buffering and delivering a next part of themedia. For example, a first six minutes of the “Vacation in AlaskaVideo” may be buffered and delivered first, then a second six minutesmay be buffered and delivered next, and so on until the entire media isdelivered.

A second, less expensive option 802 may be “Normal Delivery” which woulddeliver the pushed media in 2 hours and 13 minutes without queuing andcost $0.59, for example. The pushed media may be stored in a file in anMPEG 2 format that was recorded at a rate of 1.5 Mbps, for example.

A third, least expensive option 804 may be “Overnight Delivery” whichwould deliver the pushed media by the next morning and cost only $0.05,for example. The pushed media may be stored in a file in an MPEG 2format that was recorded at a rate of 19 Mbps and stored on a server,for example.

FIG. 9A illustrates the detailed elements of a media processing system(MPS) 900 and media capture devices 901 in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention. The media capture devices 901 may compriseaudio, video, and image players, such as digital cameras, digitalcamcorders, and MP3 players, that each include a temporary storage area902 and a communication interface 903 such as, for example, a USBinterface or a wireless interface. The media capture devices 901 havethe capability to interface to an MPS and a PC.

The MPS 900 comprises a media processing unit (MPU) 904, remote userinterface(s) 905, and a TV screen 918 to provide integrated mediaprocessing capability and indirect user interface capability. The remoteuser interfaces 905 may comprise a voice or keyed remote control 906,keyboards and pads 907, a remote PC access interface 908, and a remotemedia system access interface 909 (i.e., providing access from anotherMPS).

The media processing unit (MPU) 904 comprises TV and radio tuners 910for image and audio consumption, communications interfaces 911, channelprocessing 912 (creating, storing, indexing, viewing), storage 913,media players 914 (CD, DVD, Tape, PVR, MP3), an integrated userinterface 915 (to provide a TV channel guide look-and-feel), networkingcomponents 916 to provide client functions such as consumption(billing), authorization (e.g., using digital certificates and digitalID's), registration, security, and connectivity. In an alternativeembodiment of the present invention, the networking components 916 mayinclude a distributed server element 917 that is part of a distributedserver.

FIG. 9B illustrates an alternative embodiment of a media processingsystem (MPS) 920 in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention. The MPS 920 is essentially an enhanced set-top box forviewing and interacting with various user interfaces, media, data, andservices that are available on the media exchange network using, forexample, a remote control. The MPS 920 comprises a media peripheral 921,a MMS (media management system) 922, and a broadband communicationinterface 923.

The media peripheral 921 may include a TV (television), a PC (personalcomputer), and media players (e.g., a CD player, a DVD player, a tapeplayer, and an MP3 player) for video, image, and audio consumption ofbroadcast and/or personal channels. The broadband communicationinterface 923 may include internal modems (e.g., a cable modem or DSLmodem) or other interface devices in order to communicate with, forexample, a cable or satellite headend.

The MMS 922 includes a software platform to provide functionalityincluding media “push” capability, media “access” capability, mediachannel construction/selection, image sequence selection, text and voiceoverlay, channel and program naming, inter-home routing selection,authorship and media rights management, shared inter-home mediaexperience, billing service, and a media guide user interface providingan integrated TV channel guide look-and-feel.

FIG. 10 illustrates connectivity between a PC 1000, an MPS 1001, andexternal processing hardware 1002 (e.g., a server) in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. The PC 1000 and MPS 1001 includenetworking components 1003 to provide client functions such asconsumption (billing), authorization, registration, security, andconnectivity. Alternatively, the PC 1000 and MPS 1001 may include adistributed server element 1004 that is part of a distributed server.

The PC 1000 and MPS 1001 connect to the external processing hardware1002 via wired or wireless connections. The external processing hardware1002 comprises a distributed server or peer-to-peer server. The externalprocessing hardware 1002 also comprises communication interfaces 1005(e.g., cable interfaces, optical interfaces, etc.) and a media exchangesoftware (MES) platform 1006. The MES platform 1006 in the externalprocessing hardware 1002 allows for communication with the PC 1000 andMPS 1001 which may also use the same MES platform 1006. The externalprocessing hardware 1002 also includes networking server components 1007to provide the similar client functions such as consumption (billing),authorization, registration, security, and connectivity at the serverside.

FIG. 11 illustrates connectivity between a PC 1100, remote media storage1101, and personal media capture devices 1102 when the PC 1100 is usedas the primary distributor of digital media such as in the case ofPC-to-PC operation, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. The personal media capture devices 1102 and remote mediastorage 1101 connect to the PC 1100 via a wireless or wired connection.The remote media storage 1101 provides user media storage anddistribution 1103 as well as third party media storage and distribution1104. The personal media capture devices 1102 provide temporary storage1114 and communication interfaces 1115.

Viewing is done using a PC monitor 1105 instead of a television screen.The PC 1100 may include storage 1106, TV/radio tuners 1107 for mediaconsumption, media players 1108, and communication interfaces 1109 anduser interfaces 1110 similar to those for the MPS of FIG. 9. The PC 1100includes a media exchange software (MES) platform 1111 that provideschannel construction capability 1112 and networking capability 1113. Thechannel construction capability 1112 allows third party and personalmedia access, sequencing, editing, media overlays and inserts, billing,scheduling, and addressing.

In summary, some embodiments according to the present invention mayprovide systems and methods that support printer resource sharing in acommunication network.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe particular embodiments disclosed, but that the present inventionwill include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A system providing printer resource sharing in a communicationnetwork, comprising: a first communication device deployed in a firstlocation; a second communication device deployed in a second location; acommunication network communicatively coupled to the first communicationdevice and the second communication device; and at least one personalprinter resource, communicatively coupled to the first communicationdevice, wherein the first communication device deployed in the firstlocation enables printing of information content on the at least onepersonal printer resource, at a request of a user of the secondcommunication device, and wherein the user of the first communicationdevice receives a signal from the second communication device thatauthenticates the second communication device, prior to printing of theinformation content on the at least one personal printer resource at therequest of the user of the second communication device.
 2. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the communication network comprises one ormore of a broadband access headend, a cable infrastructure, a satellitenetwork infrastructure, a digital subscriber line (DSL) infrastructure,an Internet infrastructure, an intranet infrastructure, a wiredinfrastructure, a closed communication infrastructure, a local areanetwork, and/or a wireless infrastructure.
 3. The system according toclaim 1, wherein the user of the second communication device receives asignal from the first communication device that authenticates the firstcommunication device, prior to printing of the information content onthe at least one personal printer resource at the request of a user ofthe first communication device.
 4. The system according to claim 1,wherein the information content comprises one or more of third partymedia content, digital video, digital images, digital audio, documents,files, broadcast television programs, radio channels, previouslypresented programming, sporting events programming, special programming,and/or on-demand movies.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein theinformation content format comprises one or more of an MPEG videoformat, a Windows media format, a Real-Player format, a Quick-Time videoformat, an H.263 video format, an H.323 video format, a JPEG imageformat, a TIFF image format, a bit map image format, a GIF image format,and/or a PCX image format.
 6. The system according to claim 1,comprising: a media exchange server communicatively coupled to thecommunication network, wherein the media exchange server providesfunctionality related to one or more of printer resource registration,media transcoding, billing for information content-related services,payment for information-content related services, information contentmanagement, communication device registration, and/or informationcontent security.
 7. The system according to claim 1, comprising: aprinter service server communicatively coupled to the communicationnetwork; and at least one network printer resource communicativelycoupled to the communication network via the printer service server andvia the print server software, the print server software residing on theat least one network printer resource.
 8. The system according to claim7, wherein the printer service server provides functionality related toone or more of communication device authorization, billing forinformation content-related services, buffering of print jobs receivedfrom the communication network, and/or delivering print jobs to the atleast one network printer resource.
 9. The system according to claim 1,comprising at least one storage device communicatively coupled to thecommunication network.
 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein thestorage device comprises one or more of a hard disk drive, a DVD player,a CD player, a floppy disk drive, a RAM, a memory stick, a PCMCIA card,and/or a compact flash card.
 11. The system according to claim 1,comprising print server software that receives from one or both of thefirst communication device and/or the second communication device viathe communication network a request for printing of information contentand that responds by coordinating the printing of the informationcontent.
 12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least onepersonal printer resource is communicatively coupled to the secondcommunication device, and wherein the second communication devicedeployed in the second location enables printing of the informationcontent on the at least one personal printer resource, at a request of auser of the first communication device.
 13. A system providing printerresource sharing in a communication network, comprising: a firstcommunication device deployed in a first location, wherein the firstcommunication device deployed in the first location enables printing ofinformation content on at least one personal printer resource, at arequest of a user of a second communication device deployed in a secondlocation, wherein the first communication device and the at least onepersonal printer resource are communicatively coupled via acommunication network, and wherein the first communication devicereceives a signal from the second communication device thatauthenticates the second communication device, prior to printing of theinformation content on the at least one personal printer resource at therequest of the user of the second communication device.
 14. The systemaccording to claim 13, wherein the communication network comprises oneor more of a broadband access headend, a cable infrastructure, asatellite network infrastructure, a digital subscriber line (DSL)infrastructure, an Internet infrastructure, an intranet infrastructure,a wired infrastructure, a closed communication infrastructure, a localarea network (LAN), and/or a wireless infrastructure.
 15. The systemaccording to claim 13, wherein the at least one personal printerresource is communicatively coupled to the second communication devicevia the communication network, and wherein the second communicationdevice receives a signal from the first communication device thatauthenticates the first communication device, prior to printing of theinformation content on the at least one personal printer resource at therequest of a user of the first communication device.
 16. The systemaccording to claim 13, wherein the information content comprises one ormore of third party media content, digital video, digital images,digital audio, documents, files, broadcast television programs, radiochannels, previously presented programming, sporting events programming,special programming, and/or on-demand movies.
 17. The system accordingto claim 13, wherein the information content format comprises one ormore of an MPEG video format, a Windows media format, a Real-Playerformat, a Quick-Time video format, an H.263 video format, an H.323 videoformat, a JPEG image format, a TIFF image format, a bit map imageformat, a GIF image format, and/or a PCX image format.
 18. The systemaccording to claim 13, wherein the first communication device enablescommunication with a media exchange server communicatively coupled tothe communication network, and wherein the media exchange serverprovides functionality related to one or more of printer resourceregistration, media transcoding, billing for information content-relatedservices, payment for information-content related services, informationcontent management, communication device registration, and/orinformation content security.
 19. The system according to claim 13,wherein the first communication device enables communication with aprinter service server communicatively coupled to the communicationnetwork, wherein at least one network printer resource iscommunicatively coupled to the communication network via the printerservice server and via the print server software, and wherein the printserver software resides on the at least one network printer resource.20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the printer service serverprovides functionality related to one or more of communication deviceauthorization, billing for information content-related services,buffering of print jobs received from the communication network, and/ordelivering print jobs to the at least one network printer resource. 21.The system according to claim 13, wherein the first communication deviceenables communication with at least one storage device communicativelycoupled to the communication network.
 22. The system according to claim21, wherein the at least one storage device comprises one or more of ahard disk drive, a DVD player, a CD player, a floppy disk drive, a RAM,a memory stick, a PCMCIA card, and/or a compact flash card.
 23. A systemproviding printer resource sharing in a communication network,comprising: a second communication device deployed in a second location,wherein, at a request of a user, the second communication devicecommunicates a request for printing to a first communication devicedeployed in a first location, and wherein printing of informationcontent is enabled on at least one personal printer resource afterreceiving the request by the first communication device, wherein thefirst communication device and the at least one personal printerresource are communicatively coupled via a communication network, andwherein the second communication device communicates a signal to thefirst communication device that authenticates the second communicationdevice, prior to printing of the information content on the at least onepersonal printer resource at the request of the user of the secondcommunication device.
 24. The system according to claim 23, wherein thecommunication network comprises one or more of a broadband accessheadend, a cable infrastructure, a satellite network infrastructure, adigital subscriber line (DSL) infrastructure, an Internetinfrastructure, an intranet infrastructure, a wired infrastructure, aclosed communication infrastructure, a local area network (LAN), and/ora wireless infrastructure.
 25. The system according to claim 24, whereinthe second communication device enables communication with a printerservice server communicatively coupled to the communication network,wherein at least one network printer resource is communicatively coupledto the communication network via the printer service server and via theprint server software, and wherein the print server software resides onthe at least one network printer resource.
 26. The system according toclaim 25, wherein the printer service server provides functionalityrelated to one or more of communication device authorization, billingfor information content-related services, buffering of print jobsreceived from the communication network, and/or delivering print jobs tothe at least one network printer resource.
 27. The system according toclaim 23, wherein the at least one personal printer resource iscommunicatively coupled to the second communication device via thecommunication network, and wherein the second communication devicereceives a signal from the first communication device that authenticatesthe first communication device, prior to printing of the informationcontent on the at least one personal printer resource at the request ofa user of the first communication device.
 28. The system according toclaim 23, wherein the information content comprises one or more of thirdparty media content, digital video, digital images, digital audio,documents, files, broadcast television programs, radio channels,previously presented programming, sporting events programming, specialprogramming, and/or on-demand movies.
 29. The system according to claim23, wherein the information content format comprises one or more of anMPEG video format, a Windows media format, a Real-Player format, aQuick-Time video format, an H.263 video format, an H.323 video format, aJPEG image format, a TIFF image format, a bit map image format, a GIFimage format, and/or a PCX image format.
 30. The system according toclaim 23, wherein the second communication device enables communicationwith a media exchange server communicatively coupled to thecommunication network, and wherein the media exchange server providesfunctionality related to one or more of printer resource registration,media transcoding, billing for information content-related services,payment for information-content related services, information contentmanagement, communication device registration, and/or informationcontent security.
 31. The system according to claim 23, wherein thesecond communication device enables communication with at least onestorage device communicatively coupled to the communication network. 32.The system according to claim 31, wherein the at least one storagedevice comprises one or more of a hard disk drive, a DVD player, a CDplayer, a floppy disk drive, a RAM, a memory stick, a PCMCIA card,and/or a compact flash card.